We all know about the beautiful Jain temples of Shahjahanabad, but did you know that there is a much older and lesser known Jain temple situated in Mehrauli? Read below to know more about this spectacular structure in the south of Delhi.
The Dadabari Jain temple in Mehrauli is the oldest Jain temple of the city, and has been in its place for more than 800 years now. This flawless white marble shrine is dedicated to Manidhari Dada Gurudev Shri Jinachandra Suri Ji, a Jain mystic saint of the 13th century.
Story behind the construction of the Temple
Shri Jinachandra Suri was born in 1140 AD as Surya Kumar. He was a child prodigy who renounced the world at the age of 6. At the tender age of 9, he had already become an acharya. Although he went around the world fulfilling his duties as a monk, he never entered Delhi as his Guru, Acharya Gurudev Jinadutta Suri Ji had prophesized his death on arrival to the city. However, once on its outskirts, he had to give in to the insistence of the then ruler, Raja Madanpal Tomar, and decided to make a visit.
He spent the rest of his life in Delhi and gave up his body at the ripe age of 26. Before he left his body, Dada Gurudev instructed his disciples not to keep down his body anywhere except the location where they want to perform his last rites. If they failed to do so, they would not be able to relocate his mortal remains, he warned them. On the way to the cremation ground, exhausted from the labour and considerate of other believers who wished to pay their condolences, the followers kept down the body of the saint. As he had predicted, they were unable to pick it up. Even soldiers, elephants and horses were unable to move it. Having but no choice left, Dada Gurudev Jinachandra Ji was cremated at that very location where later his samadhi was constructed. The temple that we see today, stands at the location of the samadhi.
Architecture and Design
This holy shrine is situated just half a kilometre away from the main Gurgaon-Mehrauli Road. It is one pf the few peaceful spots in Delhi, adorned with large silver gateways and doors with carved marble arches. Its most stunning feature is one of the shrines which is completely done in colourful mirror work that glimmers beautifully. One can also see several paintings illustrating Jain stories. A corridor full of paintings depicts scenes and tales from the life of Dada Guru. This small campus can host up to 300 people.
Behind the temple lies an artificially created hillock with shrines of many Jain Tirthankars scattered on it. During Jain festivals, thousands of devotees flood the temple, paying their respects to the Saint. Structures such as this highlight the multicultural history of Delhi that flourished for centuries. Once the pandemic is over, do pay a visit to this holy shrine and steal some moments of peace and tranquility from the hustle bustle of the city.
